Globally, local ocean defenders are at the frontline of efforts to protect the ocean, their territories, and human rights. Yet, they are often being marginalized, threatened, attacked, and murdered. Research carried out under the The Ocean Defenders Project[1] has provided insights into numerous areas and activities where funding is needed to advance efforts to support and safeguard ocean defenders globally. In short, both reactive and proactive activities are needed in local places and at the systems level. Here, we identify four broad areas where funding is critical to directly and indirectly support ocean defenders – and make specific recommendations for supporting activities related to each.
Place-Based Supports
Direct Support for Ocean Defenders and their Networks – Ocean defenders who are on the frontlines need direct support for their capacity for organization, advocacy and resistance – including to set visions, understand threats, comprehend the legal context, find allies, consider resistance options, organize their efforts, run their organizations, and connect with other communities in similar situations. Funding may also be needed to ensure their own safety and security, both for proactive measures and rapid responses. Broader national and international networks and collectives often stand with and operate in support of local ocean defenders. Direct support for ocean defenders often needs to go through intermediary organizations that have the knowledge and experience to effectively and safely provide financial support to environmental and human rights defenders.
- Recommendation 1: Provide direct support to ocean defenders and their networks through regional or global intermediary organizations that focus specifically on environmental and human rights defenders.
Indirect Support for Ocean Defenders via Allied Organizations – Due to the complex governance contexts where ocean defenders operate, the success of their efforts and their safety can depend on the support of allied organizations. Ocean defenders often need support in the form of capacity development, legal expertise and advice, advocacy and visibility, scientific research and documentation, fundraising and financial management, facilitation and mediation, and safety and security measures. These supports can be provided by various allied organizations, including grassroots networks, legal non-profit organizations, human rights institutions, NGOs, university researchers, and the media, operating nationally or internationally. Importantly, actions taken by allied organizations to support ocean defenders must center their voices and needs, ensuring they are at the forefront of determining when, where and how to support them.
- Recommendation 2: Support allied organizations – including grassroots networks, legal non-profit organizations, human rights institutions, NGOs, university researchers, and the media – who stand with and behind the efforts of ocean defenders.
System-Level Supports
Support for Initiatives that Bring Greater Attention and Support to Ocean Defenders – Expanding the network of people, organizations, and initiatives working to support ocean defenders requires building a movement. For this reason, the aim of The Ocean Defenders Project has been to increase understanding of, raise the profile of, and bring greater support to ocean defenders through global research, outreach, and advocacy. While much has been achieved, this work needs to continue. Additional systems level activities are needed to continue to build the momentum and the movement – such as conducting big picture research on issues and solutions, raising the profile and advocating for greater attention to ocean defenders in global fora, mobilizing support of diverse actors and organizations, and building the capacity of ocean defenders and allied organizations. There is also a critical need for initiatives that coordinate both proactive and rapid responses to ongoing or emerging issues and that convene safe spaces and gatherings for ocean defenders.
- Recommendation 3: Support continued research, outreach, and advocacy efforts to increase knowledge about, raise the profile of, and bring greater support to ocean defenders – to continue to build the momentum and the movement.
- Recommendation 4: Support efforts to train and build the capacity of ocean defenders in effective organizing, advocacy and security, as well as allied organizations in effectively working with and safeguarding individuals, groups and coastal communities that find themselves in the role of defending the ocean environment and human rights.
- Recommendation 4: Support organizations and initiatives that can help to coordinate proactive efforts and that provide rapid response mechanisms to assist ocean defenders on the ground – and that convene safe gatherings for ocean defenders.
Support for Broader Work on Human Rights and Ocean Governance – If human rights were respected and protected in ocean development and governance, then there would be no need for ocean defenders nor efforts to support and safeguard them. And yet, human rights violations related to ocean development and the health of the marine environment are widespread and rising. It follows then that proactive efforts are needed to mainstream human rights, including the human right to a healthy ocean, into ocean development and governance frameworks at national, regional, and international levels. Critically, there is a need to move from recognition to implementation to respect, protect, and restore the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable ocean. Moreover, there is a need to build a global movement – which might happen through a coordinated initiative or coalition of actors – to raise the profile of the issues, mobilize supporters, and catalyze priority actions to address human rights issues related to the ocean environment. Furthermore, duty-bearers – including governments and the private sector – have specific obligations and responsibilities under human rights law. But, they often lack knowledge and capacity to fulfill them.
- Recommendation 6: Support global, regional, and national efforts and initiatives that seek to advance human rights, including the human right to a healthy ocean, in ocean development and governance.
- Recommendation 7: Support efforts to strengthen the knowledge of governments and the private sector about their obligations and responsibilities to protect and respect human rights, including the right to a healthy ocean and the rights of ocean defenders – and to build their capacity and support their actions to fulfill these obligations and responsibilities.
| For more information, contact: Nathan Bennett, Principal Investigator and Co-lead of The Ocean Defenders Project & Chair of People and the Ocean Specialist Group for IUCN. |
[1] For more information, see: http://oceandefendersproject.org; The Ocean Defenders Project (2025). Ocean Defenders: Protectors of our ocean environment and human rights. The Peopled Seas Initiative, Vancouver, Canada.; Bennett NJ et al. (2023). Ocean defenders and human rights. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1089049.; Bennett NJ et al. (2024). The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable ocean. Npj Ocean Sustainability, 3, 19.; López de la Lama R. et al (2025). The critical role of allied organizations in supporting ocean defenders. Forthcoming, available on request.
